Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Aircraft: Carbon Dioxide

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking at international level to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from aircraft.

Jesse Norman: The Government believes that international aviation emissions, given their global nature, are best tackled at the global level. The Department for Transport leads on this issue, working closely with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.In October the UK and the 190 other States agreed to introduce a global measure to address CO2 emissions from international aviation in the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Under the deal, which is a major step to ensure international aviation contributes to the Paris Agreement’s wider climate objective of keeping the global temperature rise below 2°C, airlines will offset their emissions with reductions from other sectors and activities, with the aim of delivering carbon-neutral growth of international aviation from 2020. The UK’s focus will now be on ensuring the measure is implemented successfully across the world.

Fire Prevention: Furniture

Sir Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on changes in the level of use of chemical fire retardants in furniture over the past five years.

Margot James: The Department does not hold information on the changes in the level of use of chemical fire retardants in furniture over the past five years. However, the Government is currently consulting on amending the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations to bring these up to date with the modern manufacturing practice and consumer expectations.

Fire Prevention: Furniture

Sir Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to propose amendments to the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 to reduce toxic fire retardants in furniture.

Margot James: The Government is currently consulting on amending the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations to bring these up to date with the modern manufacturing practice and consumer expectations. The proposals have the potential to reduce the use of flame retardants in future production.

Living Wage

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2016 to Question 47384, on companies: costs, when he plans to review progress against the aims of the national living wage.

Margot James: The Government has asked the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to advise the Government on the level of the National Living Wage that will apply from April 2017. The Low Pay Commission’s remit is issued annually.The Low Pay Commission’s remit can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-minimum-wage-low-pay-commission-remit-2016-autumn

Fire Prevention: Furniture

Sir Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory requirement for furniture products to carry a label stipulating the chemicals used in those products.

Margot James: The Government is currently consulting on amending the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations to bring these up to date with modern manufacturing practice and consumer expectations. The consultation contains a proposal to introduce a requirement for furniture labels to stipulate the flame retardants used in the manufacture.

Carbon Dioxide

Sir Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 80 per cent from 1990 levels by 2050.

Mr Nick Hurd: Holding answer received on 08 November 2016



The Government is committed to tackling climate change and to the UK’s Climate Change Act. Climate change remains one of the most serious long-term risks to our economic and national security. We have already made great progress towards our 2050 target to reduce emissions by at least 80%, compared to 1990 levels. Provisional statistics indicate that UK emissions in 2015 were 38% lower than in 1990, and 3% below those in 2014.In October we published our response to the Committee on Climate Change’s progress report. In our response we set out the Government’s progress to date and the key actions we are taking to reduce our emissions to meet our carbon targets. We are now looking ahead to our emissions reduction plan which will set out how we will reduce emissions through the 2020s, keeping us on track for our 2050 target.

Defence and Security

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of the defence and security industries.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has frequent discussions with defence and security companies and also engages regularly with the industry through the Defence Growth Partnership, which is jointly chaired by BEIS and industry. During his recent visit to Japan, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State attended the Special Equipment Exhibition and Conference for Anti-Terrorism (SEECAT), where he met with a number of UK-based Defence and Security companies.All Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly on the www.gov.uk website at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bis-quarterly-publications-april-to-june-2012

Department for Exiting the European Union

Brexit

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when his Department plans to publish its analysis of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on more than 50 sectors.

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, which sectors his Department is studying in its analysis of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on more than 50 sectors.

Mr David Jones: We will disclose the sectors we are analysing in due course. Our overall analysis covers the entirety of the UK economy. We have structured our approach by sector because it is a robust way of breaking down the economy into comparable units which lend themselves readily to analysis within the areas of goods; services; financial services; network industries; and agriculture and fisheries. We are also including cross-cutting regulations in our analysis. We will not, however, publish any analysis that might risk harming our negotiating position.

Department for Education

Grammar Schools

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many grammar schools take account of whether applicants to that school are (a) in receipt of pupil premium and (b) eligible for free school meals.

Nick Gibb: Other than ensuring compliance with the Admissions Code, the Government does not monitor the admission policies of state-funded schools.

Academies

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to bring forward legislation to allow for the forcible conversion of schools to academy status in underperforming local authority areas.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what definition of underperforming local authorities, or other measures of performance her Department will use in a decision to convert a school to academy status.

Edward Timpson: We have been clear that we want to see all schools, over time, become academies. But our focus is on schools where standards need to be raised. So we will continue to convert all schools that are judged inadequate by Ofsted, and work with those that are coasting or otherwise underperforming to identify the support they need to improve. We expect that in some cases this support will be through conversion to become a sponsored academy. No new legislation is required for these purposes.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to answer Question 43738, tabled on 20 July 2016 by the right hon. Member for East Ham.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to answer named day Questions 43736, 43737 and 43738, tabled on 20 July 2016 by the right hon. Member for East Ham, on the Bright Tribe Multi-Academy Trust.

Edward Timpson: Parliamentary questions 43736, 43737, 43738 were answered on 01 November 2016.

Children: Day Care

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding per head has been allocated for childcare in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley, (c) Yorkshire and the Humber and (d) the UK in the financial years (i) 2016-17 and (ii) 2017-18.

Caroline Dinenage: Funding for the free early years entitlements is allocated on a local authority basis. In 2016-17, the relevant hourly funding rates per child were as follows:LAsThree and Four Year old EntitilementTwo year old entitlementBarnsley£3.99£4.85Bradford£5.19£4.85Calderdale£4.15£4.85Doncaster£3.87£4.85East Riding of Yorkshire£4.40£4.85Kingston upon Hull City of£4.20£4.85Kirkless£4.37£4.85Leeds£4.09£4.85North East Lincolnshire£3.72£4.85North Lincolnshire£4.39£4.85North Yorkshire£4.49£4.85Rotherham£4.07£4.85Sheffield£4.51£4.85Wakefield£4.14£4.85York£3.63£4.85 The figures given above relate to England. Childcare policy for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is devolved. In 2016-17, the national average hourly funding rate paid by the Department for Education to local authorities in England, is £4.51 for three and four-year-olds and £5.09 for two-year-olds. All funding rates for three and four-year-olds are exclusive of the Early Years Pupil Premium which is an additional funding stream for disadvantaged children. The new funding rates under our proposed early years national funding formula from 2017-18, can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/early-years-funding-changes-to-funding-for-3-and-4-year-olds

Academies

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to require maintained schools which have consistently been rated by Ofsted as outstanding to convert to academy status.

Edward Timpson: We have been clear that we want to see all schools, over time, become academies. But our focus is on schools where standards need to be raised. So we will continue to convert all schools that are judged inadequate by Ofsted, and work with those that are coasting or otherwise underperforming to identify the support they need to improve. We expect that in some cases this support will be through conversion to become a sponsored academy. No new legislation is required for these purposes.

Grammar Schools

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many applications her Department has received from grammar schools proposing to expand since the introduction of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

Nick Gibb: The records that are held and maintained by the department indicate that since April 2012 there have been 17 grammar schools that have applied to extend their school. These figures relate to grammar schools that have converted to academy status. We are not able to verify the records for expansions at selective academies before 2012. Maintained grammar schools would apply to their local authority when seeking to expand and this data is not held by the department.

Glenburn Sports College

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department owns the site of the former Glenburn Sports College in Skelmersdale.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, by what process interested parties in Skelmersdale may express an interest in obtaining the 3G floodlit 11-a-side football pitch at the former Glenburn Sports College site to ensure continued community access to the facility.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with Sport England on the future of the 3G floodlit 11-a-side football pitch on the former Glenburn Sports College site in Skelmersdale.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has for the management and future use of the former Glenburn Sports College site in Skelmersdale.

Edward Timpson: Ownership of the site of the former Glenburn Sports College is currently under review in the Department. The site was originally owned by Lancashire County Council, and was then transferred to the Glenburn Education Trust when the school became a foundation school.However, when the school closed earlier this year, the governing body was required under the law to apply for a Secretary of State determination as to the future of the site. No application was made, and in the absence of a determination, the Department is considering a representation from the local authority that the land should revert to them.Any parties wishing to express an interest in facilities on the site should approach Lancashire County Council in the first instance, though any plans for future use will be for the eventual agreed holder of the site to take forward. The land will continue to be protected under legislation against disposal without the consent of the Secretary of State. As part of considering whether to grant consent, the Secretary of State will consider if the land can be redeployed for education.

Grammar Schools: Special Educational Needs

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children with special educational needs attend each grammar school in each local education authority area with a fully or partially selective education system.

Nick Gibb: Our vision for children with SEN and disabilities is the same as that for all children and young people – that they achieve well in their early years, at school and in college, that they find employment; lead happy and fulfilled lives; and experience choice and control. All schools must make admission decisions over those with Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND) fairly, and where a child with SEND meets the admission criteria of a selective school, this will allow them to access the benefits of education at that school just the same as for any other pupil. We also expect selective schools to support the wider school system by being engines of academic and social achievement for all pupils, whatever their background and whatever their ability, and we are consulting on how we can ensure this is the case. The information requested is presented in the table below. The latest statistics providing the number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) in schools broken down by school and admission policy can be found in the underlying data of the ‘Special educational needs in England: January 2016’ statistical first release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england-january-2016. Table 1: Number of pupils with special educational needs in Selective Schools January 2016 England  Selective schools LA NameSchool NameTotal Pupils Total pupils with SEN  Number% (4)BarnetSt Michael's Catholic Grammar School770 648.3 BarnetQueen Elizabeth's School Barnet1,190 80.7 BarnetThe Henrietta Barnett School745 172.3 BexleyBeths Grammar School1,325 312.3 BexleyBexley Grammar School1,405 463.3 BexleyChislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School1,355 282.1 BexleyTownley Grammar School1,500 936.2 BromleySt Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School1,065 423.9 BromleyNewstead Wood School975 767.8 EnfieldThe Latymer School1,365 382.8 Kingston upon ThamesThe Tiffin Girls' School995 70.7 Kingston upon ThamesTiffin School1,155 232.0 RedbridgeIlford County High School935 434.6 RedbridgeWoodford County High School905 60.7 SuttonWilson's School1,120 111.0 SuttonSutton Grammar School870 414.7 SuttonWallington High School for Girls1,400 211.5 SuttonNonsuch High School for Girls1,285 302.3 SuttonWallington County Grammar School1,025 111.1 BirminghamHandsworth Grammar School985 121.2 BirminghamSutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls1,015 343.3 BirminghamKing Edward VI Aston School800 658.1 BirminghamKing Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls965 101.0 BirminghamKing Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys770 303.9 BirminghamKing Edward VI Five Ways School1,215 191.6 BirminghamKing Edward VI Handsworth School965 x0.1 BirminghamBishop Vesey's Grammar School1,025 262.5 WalsallQueen Mary's Grammar School860 374.3 WalsallQueen Mary's High School720 121.7 WolverhamptonWolverhampton Girls' High School840 111.3 LiverpoolThe Blue Coat School1,005 393.9 WirralSt Anselm's College885 242.7 WirralWirral Grammar School for Girls1,165 121.0 WirralWest Kirby Grammar School1,195 574.8 WirralWirral Grammar School for Boys1,075 635.8 WirralUpton Hall School FCJ955 939.7 WirralCalday Grange Grammar School1,315 796.0 TraffordStretford Grammar School770 314.0 TraffordUrmston Grammar Academy970 252.6 TraffordAltrincham Grammar School for Boys1,285 312.4 TraffordSale Grammar School1,235 342.8 TraffordAltrincham Grammar School for Girls1,310 362.7 TraffordSaint Ambrose College955 384.0 TraffordLoreto Grammar School1,025 383.7 CalderdaleThe North Halifax Grammar School1,115 1009.0 CalderdaleThe Crossley Heath School1,105 131.2 KirkleesHeckmondwike Grammar School1,445 221.5 North YorkshireRipon Grammar School890 232.6 North YorkshireErmysted's Grammar School815 151.8 North YorkshireSkipton Girls' High School815 587.1 BuckinghamshireDr Challoner's Grammar School1,325 100.8 BuckinghamshireThe Royal Grammar School High Wycombe1,390 483.5 BuckinghamshireWycombe High School1,350 443.3 BuckinghamshireJohn Hampden Grammar School1,060 282.6 BuckinghamshireSir William Borlase's Grammar School1,065 575.4 BuckinghamshireSir Henry Floyd Grammar School1,170 181.5 BuckinghamshireAylesbury High School1,285 695.4 BuckinghamshireAylesbury Grammar School1,305 534.1 BuckinghamshireChesham Grammar School1,270 997.8 BuckinghamshireDr Challoner's High School1,110 1089.7 BuckinghamshireRoyal Latin School1,290 413.2 BuckinghamshireBurnham Grammar School1,025 585.6 BuckinghamshireBeaconsfield High School1,085 555.1 PooleParkstone Grammar School1,240 957.7 PoolePoole Grammar School1,190 13811.6 BournemouthBournemouth School for Girls1,165 504.3 BournemouthBournemouth School1,120 413.7 Stoke-on-TrentSt Joseph's College1,120 272.4 WiltshireSouth Wilts Grammar School for Girls1,000 121.2 WiltshireBishop Wordsworth's Grammar School910 343.7 ReadingKendrick School740 121.6 ReadingReading School915 192.1 SloughSt Bernard's Catholic Grammar School855 708.2 SloughUpton Court Grammar School1,025 515.0 SloughLangley Grammar School1,090 272.5 SloughHerschel Grammar School915 151.6 DevonColyton Grammar School815 121.5 PlymouthPlymouth High School for Girls795 x0.3 PlymouthDevonport High School for Boys1,150 171.5 PlymouthDevonport High School for Girls825 344.1 TorbayTorquay Boys' Grammar School1,110 242.2 TorbayChurston Ferrers Grammar School Academy980 151.5 TorbayTorquay Girls Grammar School890 879.8 EssexChelmsford County High School for Girls865 40.5 EssexKing Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford975 262.7 EssexColchester County High School for Girls875 40.5 EssexColchester Royal Grammar School875 131.5 Southend-on-SeaWestcliff High School for Boys Academy1,125 262.3 Southend-on-SeaSouthend High School for Boys1,185 181.5 Southend-on-SeaSouthend High School for Girls1,055 40.4 Southend-on-SeaWestcliff High School for Girls1,145 30.3 KentTunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School1,010 272.7 KentTunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys1,285 241.9 KentDover Grammar School for Girls860 364.2 KentMaidstone Grammar School1,215 121.0 KentMaidstone Grammar School for Girls1,220 70.6 KentSimon Langton Girls' Grammar School1,085 746.8 KentThe Judd School1,080 323.0 KentDartford Grammar School for Girls1,065 605.6 KentSimon Langton Grammar School for Boys1,140 1018.9 KentDover Grammar School for Boys790 556.9 KentHighsted Grammar School820 394.8 KentDartford Grammar School1,330 725.4 KentHighworth Grammar School1,370 594.3 KentChatham & Clarendon Grammar School1,315 171.3 KentTonbridge Grammar School1,145 12410.8 KentWeald of Kent Grammar School1,190 242.0 KentSir Roger Manwood's School955 858.9 KentQueen Elizabeth's Grammar School960 121.3 KentInvicta Grammar School1,315 251.9 KentDane Court Grammar School1,275 110.9 KentOakwood Park Grammar School980 404.1 KentGravesend Grammar School1,145 302.6 KentWilmington Grammar School for Boys925 414.4 KentWilmington Grammar School for Girls865 708.1 KentBarton Court Grammar School850 455.3 KentCranbrook School745 10614.2 KentBorden Grammar School820 8610.5 KentMayfield Grammar School Gravesend965 141.4 KentThe Folkestone School for Girls1,075 232.1 KentThe Norton Knatchbull School1,110 655.9 KentThe Harvey Grammar School900 131.4 KentThe Skinners' School945 677.1 MedwayThe Rochester Grammar School1,225 534.3 MedwayFort Pitt Grammar School800 526.5 MedwayChatham Grammar School for Boys790 708.8 MedwaySir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School1,210 776.4 MedwayRainham Mark Grammar School1,300 544.1 MedwayChatham Grammar School for Girls665 284.2 LancashireLancaster Girls' Grammar School885 667.4 LancashireClitheroe Royal Grammar School1,185 191.6 LancashireLancaster Royal Grammar School1,020 757.3 LancashireBacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School1,225 90.7 Telford and WrekinNewport Girls' High School Academy Trust485 102.1 Telford and WrekinAdams' Grammar School890 485.4 CumbriaQueen Elizabeth Grammar School Penrith870 677.7 GloucestershireSir Thomas Rich's School995 121.2 GloucestershirePate's Grammar School1,060 50.5 GloucestershireThe Crypt School895 293.2 GloucestershireHigh School for Girls785 70.9 GloucestershireRibston Hall High School840 x0.2 GloucestershireStroud High School890 424.7 GloucestershireMarling School865 485.6 LincolnshireSpalding High School960 303.1 LincolnshireThe Queen Elizabeth's High School Gainsborough1,225 625.1 LincolnshireQueen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective Academy560 386.8 LincolnshireCaistor Grammar School655 477.2 LincolnshireThe King's School Grantham1,080 807.4 LincolnshireCarre's Grammar School830 455.4 LincolnshireKesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy740 212.8 LincolnshireBourne Grammar School1,320 675.1 LincolnshireKesteven and Grantham Girls' School1,200 776.4 LincolnshireQueen Elizabeth's Grammar School Horncastle775 384.9 LincolnshireSkegness Grammar School540 203.7 LincolnshireBoston High School740 334.5 LincolnshireThe Boston Grammar School595 406.7 LincolnshireSpalding Grammar School980 585.9 LincolnshireKing Edward VI Grammar School885 283.2 WarwickshireRugby High School835 10112.1 WarwickshireAlcester Grammar School1,075 878.1 WarwickshireStratford Girls' Grammar School730 476.4 WarwickshireKing Edward VI School695 456.5 WarwickshireLawrence Sheriff School900 50.6  Source: School Census Figures have been rounded and suppressed in accordance with the published figures:Figures for the 'Total Pupils' have been rounded to the nearest ‘5’:Low counts (pupil numbers of 1 or 2) have been suppressed and replaced by 'x'.Percentages are calculated using unrounded figures and are rounded to the nearest 0.1.

Pupils

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the proportion of people working in (a) law, (b) journalism, (c) politics, (d) medicine and (e) other professions who attended (i) selective and (ii) non-selective schools.

Nick Gibb: The Department does not hold this information. The Sutton Trust has looked at this matter as part of its Leading People study, which can be viewed on its website.

Digital Technology: Adult Education

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2016 to Question 47994, what estimate she has made of the cost to the adult education budget of providing training in basic digital skills for adults.

Robert Halfon: The government is committing to ensuring that, where relevant learners get a place to study for a relevant digital skills qualification, it will be free of charge. This support is available for adults aged 19+ in England who are considered to lack basic digital skills. Funding will be via the £1.5bn Adult Education Budget. This is currently allocated to providers who decide on actual provision according to the local labour market and learner demand and so levels of funding will vary from year to year but will be delivered within the limits of the budget of each provider.

Apprentices

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2016 to Question 49543, what assessment she has made of the effect on UK (a) GDP and (b) productivity of 3 million apprenticeships starts taking place by 2020.

Robert Halfon: I refer to my answer of 27 October 2016 to Question 49543. Our latest estimates of the economic impact of apprenticeships are published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-education-measuring-the-net-present-value-in-england. We will continue to update this information to understand the ongoing impact of our apprenticeships reform programme.

GCSE

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of pupils at grammar schools obtained five or more GCSEs including mathematics and English at Grade A* to C at in the latest year for which data is available.

Nick Gibb: In 2016, 97.1 per cent of pupils at grammar schools achieved five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C including English and mathematics.However, the Government’s main measures of secondary school performance are now Progress 8, Attainment 8, Ebacc achievement and entry and pupils achieving a Good Pass in mathematics and English. Progress 8 will be used to identify schools beneath the floor. The latest statistics are available in the ‘GCSE and equivalent results: 2015 to 2016 (provisional) in England’ National Statistics release[1].  [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gcse-and-equivalent-results-2015-to-2016-provisional

Written Questions: Government Responses

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to Questions (a) 48764, 48763 and 48762, tabled on 14 October 2016, (b) 48383, tabled on 12 October 2016, (c) 46707, tabled on 7 October 2016 and (d) 48933, tabled on 17 October 2016 by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley.

Edward Timpson: Parliamentary questions 48764, 48762, 46707 and 48933 were answered on 01 November 2016. Questions 48763 and 48383 were answered on 04 November 2016.

Teachers: Retirement

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many nominations for an appreciation letter for being an exceptional teacher on retirement her Department has received since 2010.

Nick Gibb: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 November 2016.The correct answer should have been:

The Department has received ten eleven nominations for a thank you letter on retirement for exceptional teachers since 2013, seven of which were received in 2016. The number of nominations before 2013 is not available.

Nick Gibb: The Department has received ten eleven nominations for a thank you letter on retirement for exceptional teachers since 2013, seven of which were received in 2016. The number of nominations before 2013 is not available.

Independent Reviewing Officers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many independent reviewing officers (a) are currently employed and (b) were employed in 2010 in each local authority as headcount and full-time equivalents.

Edward Timpson: The information requested is not available as we do not collect data which would allow us to identify the number of independent reviewing officers. As social workers, independent reviewing officers will be included among the children’s social work workforce collection for child and family social workers. However, this collection does not identify the number of child and family social workers that are carrying out the role of an independent reviewing officer.

Children in Care: Boarding Schools

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of children in care attend fee-paying boarding schools.

Edward Timpson: This information is not held by the Department.

Children in Care

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the statistical release Information on looked-after children at both national and local authority levels for the financial year 2015-16, tables F1A and F1C, what information her Department holds on the circumstances of the 2,150 care leavers who, on 31 March 2016, were not in education, training or employment owing to pregnancy or parenting.

Edward Timpson: With regard to care leavers, the Department collects information about whether the local authority is in touch with the young person, their activity status, what type of accommodation they are in, and whether the accommodation is judged to be suitable. Young people should be recorded by local authorities as “not in education, employment or training due to pregnancy or parenting” when they are not able to participate in any of these activities because of pregnancy or because they are parents or carers. The information should reflect the young persons’ main activity on or around their birthday in the latest year. Information on the type of accommodation care leavers who, at 31 March, were not in education, training or employment due to pregnancy were in is shown in the table below.  Accommodation typeNumber[1]With parents or relatives180Community home20Semi-independent, transitional accommodation240Supported lodgings70Gone abroadxOrdinary lodgings40Residence not known10No fixed abode/homeless10Foyers40Independent living1,420Emergency accommodation20Bed and breakfastxIn custody10With former foster carers30Other accommodation70Information not knownxSource: SSDA903 Of the 2,150 care leavers who, on 31 March 2016, were not in education, training or employment owing to pregnancy or parenting, 2,080 of these children were in accommodation considered suitable, a further 60 were in accommodation considered unsuitable and for 10 the accommodation suitability was not known. In terms of their contact with the local authority, 2,120 were in touch with the local authority[2]. A further 10 were not in touch and for 10 the young person no longer required services.[1] Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10 and may not appear equal to the sum of their parts.2 Information is collected on whether the local authority is in contact with the care leaver up to one month before and 3 months after the young person’s birthday in the latest year. This figure may not appear equal to the grand total due to rounding and suppression of numbers from 1 to 5 which have not been shown. x Figures not shown in order to protect confidentiality.

Ministry of Justice

Secure Training Centres: Travellers

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October 2016 to Question 49053, whether the Youth Justice Board has raised the issue of updating its ethnicity data collection system to include Gypsy and Traveller categories with her in the last 12 months.

Dr Phillip Lee: The Youth Justice Board supports a consistent approach to recording the numbers of children and young people from minority groups across the youth justice system. To this end, the YJB are reviewing how they and their partners can update their ethnicity data collection to identify young people from a Gypsy, Romany and Traveller background.

Youth Custody: Travellers

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate she has made of literacy levels among gypsy and traveller children in secure training centres and young offender institutions.

Dr Phillip Lee: Information on literacy levels in the youth secure estate is not held centrally. The YJB and HMIP 'Children in Custody 2014-15’ report, published in December 2015, presents results of surveys completed in under-18 YOIs by young males aged 15 to 17 years that self-identified as Gypsy, Romany, or Traveller compared to young people did not report that they belonged to this ethnic group. The results for 2014/15 were as follows:  Under-18 YOIs (2014/15)Gypsy, Romany or Traveller males aged 15-17 years (sample size = 42)Other young males aged 15-17 years (sample size = 510)Do you understand spoken English?98%99%Do you understand written English?92%99%

Personal Independence Payment: West Sussex

Jeremy Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals from new claims and reassessments between June 2015 and July 2016 are outstanding after assessment for personal independence payments in (a) Arun (E07000224), (b) Chichester (E07000225), (c) Worthing (E07000229), (d) Adur (E07000223), (e) Horsham (E07000227), (f) Crawley (E07000226) and (g) Mid Sussex (E07000228).

Dr Phillip Lee: The information requested is not held centrally.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Food Poverty

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his Department's policies of the conclusions of sociology working paper 2016-03, published by the University of Oxford on 27 October 2016, on the impact of benefit sanctioning on food insecurity: a dynamic cross-area study of food bank usage in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Damian Hinds: The Work and Pensions Select Committee, in their report published in 2015, recognise that “[sanctions are] a key element of the mutual obligation that underpins the effectiveness and fairness of the social security system”. The report the honourable member cites does not provide evidence of a causal link between sanctions rates and the use of food banks. We know the most effective route out of poverty is work. That is why we are determined to help people find employment through a wide range of support targeted to each individual’s personal circumstances. Sanctions are only used in a small percentage of cases and in the year to March 2016 the number of JSA sanctions issued dropped by 56%.

Children: Maintenance

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many liability orders have been applied for since June 2014 in respect of child maintenance arrears cases administered by the Child Maintenance Service.

Caroline Nokes: The information you have requested is not currently available for publication. The Department last updated its strategy for releasing experimental statistics on the 2012 scheme on 30 September 2015 and this will be updated by the end of November 2016. We plan to release enforcement data by early 2017. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/publication-strategy-for-the-2012-scheme-administered-by-the-child-maintenance-service

Children: Maintenance

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Deduction from Earnings Orders are in place relating to child maintenance arrears cases under the 2012 statutory scheme.

Caroline Nokes: The information requested is not currently available for publication. When system data are fully assured, it will be considered for release as part of a managed process, which will be pre-announced and in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The Department last updated its strategy for releasing experimental statistics on the 2012 scheme on 30 September 2015 and this will be updated by the end of November 2016. We plan to release enforcement data by early 2017. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/publication-strategy-for-the-2012-scheme-administered-by-the-child-maintenance-service

Personal Independence Payment: West Sussex

Jeremy Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average median number of weeks' clearance times were after assessment for personal independence payments for new claimants and reassessments in (a) Arun (E07000224), (b) Chichester (E07000225), (c) Worthing (E07000229), (d) Adur (E07000223), (e) Horsham (E07000227), (f) Crawley (E07000226) and (g) Mid Sussex (E07000228) between July 2015 and June 2016.

Penny Mordaunt: The table below gives statistics on the median clearance time in weeks for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for normal rules cases in selected local authority areas. The figures relate to the time between the return of the case from the Assessment Provider (AP) to the date of the decision made by DWP on the case. The figures are for those cases returned by the AP to DWP between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016.   New ClaimsReassessmentsAdur13Arun13Chichester12Crawley13Horsham13Mid Sussex13Worthing13Table 1: Median PIP clearance times in weeks, from return from AP to DWP decision.Source: PIP Computer Systems

National Employment Savings Trust Scheme

Nigel Mills: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of implementing proposals to allow the National Employment Savings Trust to offer retirement income products to its members; and how much has been spent to date on implementation of those proposals.

Richard Harrington: We have recently undertaken a Call for Evidence to consider whether the National Employer Savings Trust should offer decumulation services and extend access to the scheme. The Call for Evidence closed on 5 October, and the Government is considering the full range of evidence submitted, including the likely potential implementation costs. We intend to publish our response in the New Year.

National Employment Savings Trust Scheme

Nigel Mills: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential demand from members of the National Employment Savings Trust for retirement income products.

Richard Harrington: We have recently undertaken a Call for Evidence on whether the National Employment Savings Trust should be able to offer decumulation services and extend access to the scheme. We received a wide range of responses which we are taking into consideration, including evidence on the potential demand from members and impact on savers. We intend to publish a Government response in the New Year.

Home Office

Offenders: Deportation

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign national offenders have successfully challenged deportation from the UK on human rights grounds in each of the last 10 years; and how many such claims relied upon (a) Article 3, (b) Article 8 and (c) another Article of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The following table shows the total number of foreign national offenders who have successfully challenged deportation from the UK on human rights grounds for the financial years 2006-07 to 2015-16. Data prior to this date is not available as it was not captured by the Home Office central reporting system.Please note that the Home Office is not able to provide data on successful appeals where claims are broken down by Article 3, Article 8 and another Article on the European Convention on Human Rights. Individually this information is not held centrally and can only be collated at disproportionate cost.



FNOs Appeal Lodged (FY) 
(Word Document, 22.92 KB)

Refugees: English Language

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to provide additional funding for English language tuition for refugees who gain settlement rights in the UK under the standard procedure for claiming asylum.

Mr Robert Goodwill: All those granted refugee status or humanitarian protection become eligible for government skills funding as any other UK resident and are not subject to the normal 3 year qualifying period.When someone receives a positive decision on their asylum claim they are provided with relevant information to allow them to access the services they need.

Detention Centres

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to reform the immigration detention estate.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government commissioned an independent review of the welfare of vulnerable individuals in detention by Stephen Shaw. We accepted the broad thrust of Mr Shaw’s recommendations, including the adoption of a wider definition of those at risk, and we have strengthened our policies and processes for dealing with the detention of persons who may be vulnerable.The Government expect these reforms, and broader changes in legislation, policy and operational approaches, to lead to a reduction in the number of those detained, and the duration of detention before removal, in turn improving the welfare of those detained The immigration detention estate is kept under constant review to make sure we have the right resources in the right places and that we are providing value for money.

Sports Competitors: Immigration

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect on professional sport of applying to professional sportspeople from outside the UK the same immigration arrangements as those currently available to entertainers, artists and musicians from outside the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The precise way in which the Government will control the movement of EU nationals following the UK’s exit from the EU is yet to be determined.

Tourism: Visas

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on the tourism industry of the introduction of visa charges on travel to and from the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on (a) families and (b) businesses of the introduction of visa charges on travel to and from the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robert Goodwill: There will be no immediate changes to our relationship with the EU. This means that EEA, Swiss and UK nationals continue to have the same rights and status that they had before the referendum.The government will provide strong and proven leadership as Britain begins its negotiations to leave the European Union and forge a new role for ourselves in the world. We will work hard to get the right deal: one that is unique to Britain and not an ‘off the shelf’ solution. This must mean controls on the numbers of people who come to Britain from Europe - but also a positive outcome for those who wish to trade in goods and services.We are about to begin these negotiations and it would be wrong to set out further positions in advance. We are also not going to provide a running commentary on every twist and turn of these negotiations. At every step of these negotiations we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British people.

Asylum: Young People

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 23 May 2012 to Question 106405 on asylum: young people, what the results of the dental x-ray pilot were.

Mr Robert Goodwill: A planned trial of the use of voluntary dental x-rays in the age assessment process did not go ahead in 2012.The Home Secretary's oral statement on Calais on 24 October (Column 55) referred to the proper safeguarding, age assessment and security checks we carry out, working closely with local authorities and social workers in the UK, to ensure that the children transferred here are eligible to come and it is in their best interests to do so.

Radicalism: Rural Areas

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to protect people in rural areas against radicalisation.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Prevent programme, alongside other safeguarding initiatives, is delivered across the whole of the UK in partnership with: local communities; civil society groups; and public sector institutions including local authorities and industry.

Asylum: Housing

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2016 to Question 47816, if she will publish details of any (a) policy equality statement, (b) equality impact assessment and (c) equality monitoring that the Government has carried out on its contracts with Compass to provide accommodation to asylum seekers (i) prior to those contracts being signed in 2012 and (ii) in the years since those contracts were signed.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The COMPASS contracts and their associated procurement exercise defined the required performance standards expected of all providers including sensitivity of equality impacts, these contracts are published at:https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive/contract/503124/The Government expects the highest standards from our contractors and providers are monitored closely to ensure they continue to meet these standards. Equality assessments have not been undertaken in isolation from usual contract tendering and management processes and discussions about equality impacts form part of regular engagement with stakeholder groups. Equality assessments are not collated in publishable formats.

South Yorkshire Police

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Answer of 31 October 2016, Official Report, columns 645-6, when the operational order of the day will be released.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office does not hold the information which you have requested. Decisions on operational policing matters are a matter for the respective police force(s) involved and it is not common practice for their operational orders to be submitted to the Home Office or other Government departments.As the Home Secretary told the House on 31 October, the Police & Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Police is considering how the force’s papers relating to Orgreave should be released.

Immigration: Appeals

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to monitor and improve the performance of UK Visas and Immigration's implementation of decisions made by the First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum).

Mr Robert Goodwill: Details of allowed appeals which are not being contested by the Home Office are sent electronically on a daily basis to decision making centres, which arrange for appropriate follow on actions to be taken reflecting the Tribunal’s determination in each case.My officials are currently reviewing the arrangements for monitoring performance on follow on actions to identify the scope for improvements.

Refugees: Children

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what immigration status children transferred to the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 will be given on arrival in the UK.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether children arriving in the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 will be referred to the Refugee Council's Children's Panel Advice Service.

Mr Robert Goodwill: All children arriving in the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 are granted temporary admission while we consider their asylum claim. They are also referred to the Refugee Council’s Children's Panel Advice Service.

Asylum: Employment

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were granted permission to work in each of the last three years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The data requested on the number of asylum seekers that were granted permission to work is held on individual Home Office records on the Immigration casework database.Such data is not extractable without interrogating thousands of individual records. Therefore, the information is not readily available and could only be obtained through a disproportionately expensive manual case search to collate the data.

Mining: Industrial Disputes

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which files and documents she reviewed before making her decision not to proceed with an inquiry into the events at Orgreave in 1984.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Secretary’s decision not to establish an inquiry or independent review into the events at Orgreave Coking Plant was based on a number of factors, including consideration of the key purposes of an inquiry and whether these were met in the case of Orgreave.As part of this consideration, the Home Secretary reviewed a range of relevant documentation.

Free Movement of People: Republic of Ireland

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to ensure that freedom of movement to and from the UK for Irish citizens is pursued during negotiations between the UK and the EU on the UK's departure from the EU.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Senior Officials from the UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland are working closely to consider the implications of the UK’s exit from the EU on the Common Travel Area (CTA) and the movement of UK and Irish citizens within this free movement zone.The CTA arrangement predates the EU and leaders in the UK and Ireland have been unequivocal –both want to maintain the current arrangement.

Immigration: Bail

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans that paragraph 11 of Schedule 10 to the Immigration Act 2016 will come into force.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We are currently working with the Ministry of Justice, Her Majesty’s Court Service and the First-tier Tribunal to implement the Secretary of State’s duty to arrange consideration of bail, as set out in paragraph 11 of Schedule 10 to the Immigration Act 2016.This is just one part of a large number of changes necessary to implement the wider immigration bail provisions in Schedule 10 and will be commenced alongside those other provisions in due course.

Refugees: Drinking Water

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that people in the Calais refugee sites have access to clean drinking water.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We have supported the French in their efforts to move all children from the camp in Calais to safe alternative accommodation across France. The protection of migrants in France remains the responsibility of the French Government, but we are absolutely committed to safeguarding and protecting these children.Home Office staff escorted children on coaches during this operation, and will be visiting these centres to make sure those children who may be eligible to come to the UK continue to be assessed. Any welfare concerns they encounter will be highlighted to the French Government.

Cabinet Office

Electronic Government

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what research has been undertaken on assisted technologies in conjunction with the use of gov.uk websites.

Ben Gummer: In May 2016 Government launched an online survey to understand which assistive technologies people use to access GOV.UK. We are using the survey results to help us decide which assistive technologies we will use to test GOV.UK. We will also use the results to help us decide which assistive technologies we will advise other departments to test with.Details of this research, together with the broader work that GDS is undertaking to ensure that we are building inclusive digital services across GOV.UK, can be found on the GDS accessibility blog (accessibility.blog.gov.uk).

Heart Diseases: Young People

Chris Elmore: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many instances of sudden cardiac death in young people occurred in each local authority area in each year since 2009-10.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ51852
(PDF Document, 65.36 KB)




Table for PQ51852
(Excel SpreadSheet, 35.5 KB)

Department of Health

Nurses: Pay

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of NHS England payroll expenditure excluding VAT on (a) permanent nursing staff and (b) agency nursing staff in 2016-17.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the value was of NHS England payroll expenditure excluding VAT on (a) permanent nursing staff and (b) agency nursing staff in (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Department is able to provide payroll expenditure for all Qualified Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Staff on employment contracts with the National Health Service. This information for 2014-15 and 2015-16 is tabled below. VAT costs do not apply to staff on NHS Employment contracts. The requested information for 2016-17 is not yet available. YearPayroll costs for Qualified Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Staff in NHS Hospital and Community Health Services in England. (£)2014-1513.3 billion2015-1613.5 billion The Department does not hold national data on agency staff that is broken down by staff group.